In season of distraction, Predators are focused on one thing: clinching playoff berth

Orlando can clinch a playoff spot with a win at Cleveland and a loss by the New Orleans VooDoo to the Jacksonville Sharks.

July 19, 2013|By Brendan Sonnone, Orlando Sentinel

When players were informed that managing partner Brett Bouchy this week was leaving after nearly two decades with the Orlando Predators, one thought filled Dominic Jones' mind.

What else can go wrong?

Through the twists and turns of a season that began with an 0-5 start and included the failed experiment of Kyle Rowley as their starting quarterback, myriad roster moves and Bouchy's departure, the Preds have hope. Orlando (6-10) can clinch a spot in the Arena Football League playoffs with a victory against the host Cleveland Gladiators (3-13) at 7 Saturday night and a loss by the New Orleans VooDoo to the visiting Jacksonville Sharks.

"It was like, 'Here we go again,'" Jones said of Bouchy's resignation. "This is just one of the things that is going to bring us a little closer together.

"If, against all odds, we somehow make the playoffs, we can shock some people. It's an us-against-the world type of deal."

The world had every reason to look at the Preds with skepticism in April, when they were 0-5 (including three losses by at least 18 points) following a 4-14 free fall in 2012.

Team chemistry was bad. Rowley, the Preds' big offensive free-agent signing, was struggling even before his arrest on two charges, including for DUI. He was released in June and is now with Jacksonville.

Jones is one of five active Preds who dressed out in Week One. Orlando has used a league-high 49 players, according to ArenaFan.com. The Pittsburgh Power and Tampa Bay Storm are next with 38 players.

"I've never played or have been associated with a team that has had this much change," said Preds coach Doug Plank, who played for the Chicago Bears from 1975-82.

"We were joking the other day, looking at a photograph of the team taken midseason. This is one team that needed a team picture every week. We really should have just added Velcro spots for the heads so we could just interchange faces."

Two of those new faces belonged to quarterback Aaron Garcia and defensive lineman Jermaine Smith. The additions of Garcia, 42, and Smith, 41, calmed the brewing dysfunction in the locker room.

Garcia has demanded professionalism from teammates, while Smith has entertained younger players by sharing experiences from his 11-year AFL career.

"There are guys coming over to grill, talk, play cards," Jones said. "We like coming to the locker room an hour before practice, away from the chalk talk. [In the beginning of the year], we weren't talking to each other or hanging out if it wasn't related to football."

During a recent film session, Plank chuckled to himself while reviewing a 55-41 victory against the Iowa Barnstormers last weekend. With the defense's consistently physical play and the offense's precision, the coach said it was like watching a new team.

"We couldn't have done some of those things several weeks ago," Plank said.

Now the Preds, 6-5 with Garcia as their quarterback, are on the verge of the postseason.

"We've definitely had a lot of ups and downs this year," wide receiver Prechae Rodriguez said. "I knew in the back of my mind that the losing was only temporary. It was painful, but pain is temporary and doesn't last forever."

A playoff berth would make the pain worth it.

"This season has been a journey like no other,'' Plank said. "If we're able to accomplish that feat, it'd be very satisfying, knowing all the things we had to go through to get where we are."